Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Classroom Constitutional Convention
Learners investigate the eight phrases that comprise the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution to determine its principles and purpose. Their own Constitutional Convention is convened to craft a preamble for their school's governance.
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Rallying to the Cause
Students study the role of volunteering during the Civil War, the Reconstruction, and today. In this volunteerism activity, students work with a partner to read biographies of volunteers while looking for their Core Democratic Values....
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CDV, CDV, What's a CDV?
Introduce your class to the Core Democratic Values. The instructional activity focuses on defining the Core Democratic Values and related terms. Small groups look up terms and present a song based on the information they've found. After...
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Power to the People
Students work together to research leaders of disadvantaged groups. They identify how these people use the nonprofit sector to make positive changes. They discuss how the leader uses the democratic core values and present the information...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Euthanasia
Students analyze euthanasia as a possible way to die. In this controversial lesson, students reflect and discuss euthanasia as a possible way to enter death. Classroom discussion allows students to voice their opinion and...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Youth Curfews
Don't stay out too late! Scholars analyze the need for youth curfews in a democratic society. They examine primary documents, case studies, and short video clips to form their opinions and take a position on the issue. Holding a class...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Educating Non-Citizens
High schoolers distinguish between the privileges of being a U.S. Citizen and privileges that are forfeited if not a U.S. Citizen. For this history lesson, students analyze the rights of people in a democratic society through...
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Committing to Respect: Lessons for Students to Address Bias
Here's a guide designed to build safe, respectful learning environments, and to build understanding of the value of diversity through lessons packed with activities for specific grade levels.
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Charisma vs. Experience
Which is more important for a president: experience or charisma? Scholars consider this as they analyze 2 political cartoons in this analysis handout. Background information gives context through a quote from The Telegraph, and 3 talking...
Lehigh University
Glory (1989) - Should it be Shown in Class?
This is a fantastic activity that prompts learners to think like educators and consider the value of a historically based film beyond just the accuracy of information. Your young historians will work in groups to do a close reading and...
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New York State Government
Fourth graders identify key democratic values and explain the function of the three branches of New York State Government. They describe the history and purpose of the New York State Constitution.
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Democracies in North America: Canada, the United States, and Mexico
Pupils examine democratic values. In this democracy lesson, students research the political systems of Canada, Mexico, and the United States in order to compare and contrast them. Pupils also discuss domestic and international events...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Voting
Young scholars read about voting rights and compulsory voting in democracies. For this voting rights lesson plan, young scholars analyze the reasons for supporting and opposing compulsory voting and discuss whether compulsory voting is...
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Basic Concepts of Democracy
Bring the government to your classroom with this challenging activity. Great as either a review activity or a quiz, the worksheet contains ten questions about the philosophy and characteristics of a democratic government.
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How Does My Government Grow?
Students identify the core democratic values. They explain how the values affect their life in America. They also relate the topic of philantrophy to the core values.
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Active Citizenship through the Spectacles of Benjamin Franklin
Students research and identify ways that Benjamin Franklin contributed to society. They identify the core democratic values and how he achieved them. They research organizations in their area that give back to the community.
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Understanding the Importance of the Declaration of Independence
Eighth graders examine the importance of the Declaration of Independence
by using a variety of research sources and computer technology to obtain information. They internalize the thoughts, actions, and motives of the signers of the...
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With Liberty and Top Soil for All
Students describe the need of plants to have water, soil and sunlight to grow. They use the scientific method when completing experiments. They identify the core democratic values that are needed for a democracy to grow and compare them...
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What is a Philanthropist and Why Do We Care?
Students practice using the word philanthropy. They identify examples of philanthropy in America. They describe how certain philanthropic acts relate to the core democratic values.
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Colonial America and Roots of Government
Students identify 50 States and the major geographic features, regions, and political representation of each. In connection, they investigate the causes and effects of European colonization on North America. They identify the formation...
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Changing of the Guard
Students reflect on their knowledge of democracy. After reading an article, they examine current plans for the placement of a democracy in Iraq. In groups, they research past regime changes and democratization attempts and discuss the...
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Taking to the Airwaves
Learners consider the purpose of talk radio and examine its importance in the new democratic Iraq. They enact mock talk shows based on current events and reflect on the value of free speech and the role audience members play in radio...
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Citizens Together
Young scholars examine the bill of rights as it relates to founding documents and their significance today. In this bill of rights lesson plan, students use newspapers as sources to answer critical questions regarding democratic...
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The Void Filled by Nonprofits
Students examine the significance of nonprofit organizations in a democratic society. They conduct research on a selected nonprofit organization, complete a questionnaire, and present their findings to the class.